New York, NY - John Jay College women's volleyball junior outside hitter Emilia Cascapera was named the 2026 City University of New York Athletic Conference (CUNYAC) Player of the Year, highlighting the Bloodhounds' postseason conference recognition.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by John Jay Athletics (@jjayathletics)

Cascapera was joined by teammates Ansley Hobson and Madison Mullan, who earned All-Conference honors, while senior Caroline Guerney was also recognized as part of the Sportsmanship Team.



Cascapera's selection marks the fourth consecutive season that a John Jay student-athlete has captured CUNYAC Player of the Year honors, continuing an impressive run for the Bloodhounds. Josanne Lewis received the distinction in back-to-back seasons in 2023 and 2024 before Jadyn Orava earned the award in 2025. A three-time CUNYAC Player of the Week selection, Cascapera established herself as one of the conference's most dominant offensive performers throughout the 2026 campaign. The Bloodhounds' offensive leader paced the CUNYAC with 295 kills, averaging 3.60 kills per set, while leading the league in total points (371) and points per set (4.52). Her 4.52 points per set ranked 28th nationally among NCAA Division III players, while her kills-per-set average stood 62nd in the country. Cascapera also proved to be a formidable presence from the service line, recording 62 aces, the second-highest total in the conference and 24th nationally. She added 148 digs and 24 total blocks while posting a .176 hitting percentage, which ranked ninth in the CUNYAC. Against conference opponents, Cascapera continued to excel, averaging 3.00 kills per set and producing 51 kills across 17 sets. She led the league in points per set (4.06) during CUNYAC play while adding 16 service aces. 



Hobson earned All-Conference recognition following an impressive campaign in which she showcased her versatility as both a setter and offensive contributor. The Bloodhounds' setter ranked third in the CUNYAC with a .240 hitting percentage, totaling 132 kills on 342 attempts. She also distributed 320 assists, averaging 4.44 per set, while contributing 42 service aces, 140 digs and 33 total blocks. Hobson elevated her performance against conference competition, posting a .323 hitting percentage, the third-best mark in the league, while recording 30 kills in 19 sets. She also distributed 117 assists in conference play, averaging 6.16 per set to rank third among CUNYAC setters. Hobson contributed 20 service aces, averaging 1.05 per set, which ranked sixth in the conference, while adding 39 digs and nine blocks. Her all-around ability was further highlighted by recording a triple-double during the season, making her the only CUNYAC player listed in the NCAA Division III triple-double rankings. 



Mullan joined Cascapera and Hobson among the conference's honorees after anchoring the Bloodhounds' defensive efforts at the net while providing a consistent offensive presence. One of the premier blockers in the conference, Mullan led the CUNYAC with 85 total blocks, averaging 0.91 blocks per set. Her 31 solo blocks and 54 block assists helped her rank 94th nationally in total blocks and 99th in blocks per set. Mullan also made significant contributions offensively, recording 149 kills with a .199 hitting percentage, the fifth-best mark in the conference. She added 47 service aces and accumulated 254 points, averaging 2.73 points per set to rank 10th in the CUNYAC.
Against conference opponents, Mullan was equally effective, leading the league with 20 total blocks in 21 sets, averaging 0.95 per set. She also posted a .263 hitting percentage with 41 kills and contributed 18 service aces. Her 3.43 points per set during conference competition ranked fourth in the league. 



Guerney rounded out John Jay's recognized student-athletes after serving as a key contributor to the Bloodhounds' offensive production and providing veteran leadership throughout the campaign. The senior setter appeared in 21 matches and 43 sets, distributing 235 assists while averaging 5.47 assists per set. She also contributed 64 digs, averaging 1.49 per set, along with 11 service aces, seven kills and three total blocks. Guerney elevated her play during conference competition, recording 62 assists in 10 sets for an average of 6.20 assists per set. She also registered six service aces, averaging 0.60 per set, while adding seven digs and three kills. Her three kills came on four attempts without an error, resulting in a .750 hitting percentage against CUNYAC opponents.  Her contributions as a setter, combined with her experience and leadership, helped John Jay maintain a balanced offensive attack throughout the season. 

The postseason recognition comes after John Jay captured a share of its second consecutive CUNYAC regular-season championship, finishing conference play with a 6-1 record. The Bloodhounds secured their share of the regular-season crown with a four-set victory over Hunter College on Senior Night, continuing the program's recent success among the conference's top teams. 

John Jay enters the 2026 CUNYAC Women's Volleyball Championship semifinals as the No. 1 seed and will host No. 4 Baruch College on Thursday, November 12, at 6:00 p.m., with a berth in the conference championship on the line.